Flee from Freedom | Mattheo Riddle

28: Dreamless Sleep

23rd May 1998

TW: burning

That was one of the best nights i'd had in a long time. The next night reminded me of some of my worst. 

I awake from my nightmare in a cold sweat, panting and gasping for air. I throw myself upright, thrashing the covers off in fright. 

"Amara." Pansy sits up beside me. 

I feel her hands clasp around my right arm and thrash around more to throw it off, still half immersed in the dream. 

"AMARA." This time she shouts, her hands clamp down on my arm, pinning it to the mattress. The harsh pressure of her fingers help to bring me out of it and realise i'm not in the dream. "Amara breathe." My eyes adjust to my surroundings and i come fully out of it. "Breathe." 

Still panting, i sit upright and Pansy lets go of my arm. As i'm running my hands through my hair, the door swings open.

"What's going on?" The concern is evident in Mattheo's voice. "Amara."

I don't answer, still lacking air and panting. My head is between my hands and my eyes are shut. 

"She's just dreaming." Pansy shifts on the bed beside me to face him. 

"Are you okay?" Mattheo asks, almost ignoring Pansy entirely.

I hear the sound of his footsteps as he walks further into the doorway. They stop as Pansy stands up, pushing him out of the room and shutting the door. Taking the opportunity of being alone, i look up, taking a deep breath out. I've regained control of my breathing and i'm fully awake now. 

I can hear Pansy and Mattheo talking outside. 

"What was it about?" Mattheo says. 

"I don't know." Pansy replies. "I haven't spoken to her because you can racing in so fucking quick."

"Excuse me for being concerned about her." Mattheo replies sarcastically. 

"Just give her a second okay." Pansy pauses. "It's not like her."

"To have nightmares?"

"She hasn't had them in ages. They always used to be smaller ones, but she was in her own bed back in Hogwarts, and was usually awake by the time i got to her. On occasion there was a bigger one, then last year she was taking dreamless sleep potion and she had basically none." She pauses. "This time was different."

"Different how?"

"She was still asleep or something. Even after if grabbed her. Plus she was thrashing around."

"Is that why your lips bleeding." 

"Mhm." 

"Let's go and see her." 

"Go to bed Mattheo." 

"But-"

"I know you are all buddied up with each other now but-" 

"I just want to-"

"I'll deal with it. Go to bed." 

The door clicks back open and Pansy slips inside before Mattheo can poke his head around the corner. 

"I hit you-"

"It's fine it doesn't hurt."

"Let me see." 

"I grabbed you and you swung for me. Bitch."

"Pansy i'm so sorry."

"I'm kidding." She laughs. I can tell she's trying to lighten the mood a bit. That was usually her tactic when i got bad dreams in sixth year, make a joke, make fun of someone, etc. We haven't had an interaction like this in ages, after i got tha dark mark i began taking dreamless sleep potion almost instantly. "What the fuck was all that about?"